Brexit remains the biggest issue facing Britain

The author(s)

Forty-nine percent see Brexit as one of the biggest issues facing Britain, and one third (34%) see it as the single biggest issue

Four in ten see the NHS as a big issue (42%)

Worry about Brexit is higher among some groups than others (social grades ABC1, Conservatives and men), while concern about the NHS is at a similar level across most groups

The October Ipsos MORI/Economist Issues Index shows a slight rise in the proportion who are worried about Brexit; half (49%) consider it one of the biggest issue facing Britain, three percentage points higher than the score in September. The proportion who see it as the biggest single issue has risen too, from 31% in September to 34% now.

The other issues in the top five remain in the same positions they were in September – the NHS (42%), immigration (25%), education (21%) and the economy (19%).

While concern about Brexit is generally high, it is higher still among some parts of the population. Groups with a higher level of concern than average include those in social grades AB and C1, men, Conservative party supporters and those aged 35-54.

There is also regional variation, with those living in southern England outside London significantly more concerned (65% mention Brexit), and those in the Midlands and northern England much less so (42% and 40% respectively).

Technical note

Ipsos MORI's Issues Index is conducted monthly and provides an overview of the key issues concerning the country. Ipsos MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 983 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain. The questions are spontaneous - i.e. respondents are not prompted with any answers.

Ipsos MORI's Capibus vehicle was used for this survey. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in-home between 6 and 16 October 2017 at 201 sampling points across Great Britain. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.